Alison Steadman

Alison Steadman

Known for
Acting
Born
August 26, 1946 (age 80)
Birthplace
Liverpool, England, UK

Biography

Alison Steadman (born 26 August 1946) is an English actor. She won the 1991 National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress for the Mike Leigh (her husband 1973-2001) film Life is Sweet, and the 1993 Olivier Award for Best Actress for her role as Mari in the original production of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice. In a 2007 Channel 4 poll, the "50 Greatest Actors" voted for by other actors, she was ranked No. 42. Steadman made her professional stage debut in 1968 and went on to establish her career in Mike Leigh's 1970s TV plays Nuts in May (1976) and Abigail's Party (1977). She received BAFTA TV Award nominations for the 1986 BBC serial The Singing Detective, and in 2001 for the ITV drama series Fat Friends (2000–05). Other television roles include Pride and Prejudice (1995), Gavin & Stacey (2007–10, 2019) and Orphan Black (2015–16). Her other film appearances include A Private Function (1984), Clockwise (1986), Shirley Valentine (1989), Topsy Turvy (1999), and The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004).

Known For

Photos

Alison Steadman photoAlison Steadman photoAlison Steadman photoAlison Steadman photo

Filmography

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King of the Teds poster

King of the Teds

Movie · as Tina

2026
Joke poster

Joke

Movie · as Vet

2025
Stitch Head poster

Stitch Head

Movie · as Nan (voice)

2025
Gavin & Stacey: A Fond Farewell poster

Gavin & Stacey: A Fond Farewell

Movie · as Self

2025
Here We Go: Our New Year’s Fireworks Fantasaganza poster

Here We Go: Our New Year’s Fireworks Fantasaganza

Movie · as Sue Jessop

2024
Better Man poster

Better Man

Movie · as Betty

2024
Gavin & Stacey: The Finale poster

Gavin & Stacey: The Finale

Movie · as Pam Shipman

2023
The 1970s Dinner Party poster

The 1970s Dinner Party

Movie · as Self - Narrator (voice)

2023
Wake poster

Wake

Movie · as Grace

2023
Here We Go: Mum's Classic Family Christmas poster

Here We Go: Mum's Classic Family Christmas

Movie · as Sue Jessop

2023
Alison & Larry: Billericay To Barry poster

Alison & Larry: Billericay To Barry

TV · as Alison Steadman · 3 eps

2022
Queen and Country poster

Queen and Country

Movie · as Narrator (voice)

2022
Rules of the Game poster

Rules of the Game

TV · as Anita Jenkins · 4 eps

2022
Here We Go poster

Here We Go

TV · as Sue Jessop · 19 eps

2022
Remembers… poster

Remembers…

TV · as Self · 1 ep

2021
The King's Man poster

The King's Man

Movie · as Rita

2021
Extraordinary Escapes with Sandi Toksvig poster

Extraordinary Escapes with Sandi Toksvig

TV · as Self · 1 ep

2020
We Love Gavin and Stacey

We Love Gavin and Stacey

Movie

2020
23 Walks poster

23 Walks

Movie · as Fern

2020
Roald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse poster

Roald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse

Movie · as Dora

2020
Life poster

Life

TV · as Gail Reynolds · 6 eps

2019
Off Grid poster

Off Grid

Movie · as Grace Tanner

2019
Gavin & Stacey: A Special Christmas poster

Gavin & Stacey: A Special Christmas

Movie · as Pam Shipman

2019
DNA Journey poster

DNA Journey

TV · 1 ep

2018
Care poster

Care

Movie · as Mary

2018
Butterfly poster

Butterfly

TV · as Barbara · 3 eps

2018
Hold the Sunset poster

Hold the Sunset

TV · as Edith · 12 eps

2017
Becky Watts Killed for Kicks poster

Becky Watts Killed for Kicks

Movie · as Narrator

2017
We Can Be Heroes poster

We Can Be Heroes

Movie · as Granny Evans

2017
Yours Faithfully, Edna Welthorpe (Mrs) poster

Yours Faithfully, Edna Welthorpe (Mrs)

Movie

2016
Let's Do It: A Tribute to Victoria Wood poster

Let's Do It: A Tribute to Victoria Wood

Movie · as Self

2016
Dad's Army poster

Dad's Army

Movie · as Mrs. Fox

2016
Burn Burn Burn poster

Burn Burn Burn

Movie · as Diana

2015
Peterman poster

Peterman

Movie · as Auntie Jean

2014
The One and Only Mike Leigh

The One and Only Mike Leigh

Movie · as Self

2014
Inside No. 9 poster

Inside No. 9

TV · as Anne · 1 ep

2014
Boomers poster

Boomers

TV · as Joyce · 12 eps

2014
The Great War: The People's Story poster

The Great War: The People's Story

TV · as Hallie Eustace Miles · 3 eps

2014
Gareth's All Star Choir poster

Gareth's All Star Choir

TV · as Self - Choir Member · 2 eps

2014
The Secrets poster

The Secrets

TV · as Angela · 1 ep

2013
Orphan Black poster

Orphan Black

TV · as Kendall Malone · 5 eps

2013
Yonderland poster

Yonderland

TV · as Barbara · 1 ep

2013
Love and Marriage poster

Love and Marriage

TV · as Pauline Paradise · 6 eps

2012
A Civil Arrangement

A Civil Arrangement

Movie · as Isobel

2012
The Syndicate poster

The Syndicate

TV · as Rose Wilson · 6 eps

2012
Gadget Man poster

Gadget Man

TV · 1 ep

2012
The Great Sport Relief Bake Off poster

The Great Sport Relief Bake Off

TV · as Self - Contestant · 1 ep

2012
Playhouse Presents poster

Playhouse Presents

TV · as Tina · 1 ep

2011
French Exchange poster

French Exchange

Movie · as Mrs. Phillips

2011
All Roads Lead Home poster

All Roads Lead Home

TV · as Herself · 3 eps

2011
Celebrity Antiques Road Trip poster

Celebrity Antiques Road Trip

TV · as Self - Participant · 1 ep

2011
Comedy Blaps

Comedy Blaps

TV · 3 eps

2010
Come Rain Come Shine poster

Come Rain Come Shine

Movie · as Dora Mitchell

2010
Fry and Laurie Reunited poster

Fry and Laurie Reunited

Movie · as Self - Narrator (voice)

2010
Little Crackers poster

Little Crackers

TV · as Alison's Mother, Mrs. O'Grady · 1 ep

2009
Caravans: A British Love Affair poster

Caravans: A British Love Affair

Movie · as Narrator

2008
Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special 2008 poster

Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special 2008

Movie · as Pam Shipman

2007
The 50 Greatest Television Dramas poster

The 50 Greatest Television Dramas

Movie · as Self

2007
Fanny Hill poster

Fanny Hill

Movie · as Mrs. Brown

2007
The Dinner Party poster

The Dinner Party

Movie · as Juliet

2007
Who Gets the Dog poster

Who Gets the Dog

Movie · as Jenny Evans

2007
All About 'Abigail's Party' poster

All About 'Abigail's Party'

Movie · as Self

2007
The Man from Montevideo poster

The Man from Montevideo

Movie · as Karen Horner

2007
Gavin & Stacey poster

Gavin & Stacey

TV · as Pam Shipman · 19 eps

2007
Fanny Hill poster

Fanny Hill

TV · as Mrs. Brown · 2 eps

2007
Lewis poster

Lewis

TV · as Rev. Martha Seager · 1 ep

2006
Loony in the Woods poster

Loony in the Woods

Movie · as Crazy Butcher

2006
Confetti poster

Confetti

Movie · as Sam's Mum

2006
The One Show poster

The One Show

TV · as Self · 2 eps

2006
Great British Menu poster

Great British Menu

TV · as Self - Guest Judge · 1 ep

2005
Twisted Tales poster

Twisted Tales

TV · as Margery Faversham · 1 ep

2004
The Life and Death of Peter Sellers poster

The Life and Death of Peter Sellers

Movie · as Casting Agent

2004
The Worst Week of My Life poster

The Worst Week of My Life

TV · as Angela Cook · 17 eps

2004
Bosom Pals

Bosom Pals

TV · 2 eps

2003
Chunky Monkey poster

Chunky Monkey

Movie · as Beryl

2002
D.I.Y. Hard poster

D.I.Y. Hard

Movie · as Woman

2002
Hans Christian Andersen: My Life as a Fairytale poster

Hans Christian Andersen: My Life as a Fairytale

TV · as Mrs. Meisling · 2 eps

2001
Ivor the Invisible

Ivor the Invisible

Movie · as Auntie Barbara (voice)

2001
Happy Now poster

Happy Now

Movie · as Bronwyn Race

2001
Bob the Builder: A Christmas to Remember - The Movie poster

Bob the Builder: A Christmas to Remember - The Movie

Movie · as Mayoress Bunty Ferguson (voice)

2001
Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years poster

Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years

TV · as Pauline Mole · 6 eps

2000
Lenny Henry in Pieces

Lenny Henry in Pieces

TV · 15 eps

2000
Fat Friends poster

Fat Friends

TV · as Betty Simpson · 23 eps

1999
Santa's Last Christmas poster

Santa's Last Christmas

Movie · as Mrs Whatnot (voice)

1999
Topsy-Turvy poster

Topsy-Turvy

Movie · as Madame Leon

1999
Jack and the Beanstalk poster

Jack and the Beanstalk

Movie · as Mother / Veronica

1999
Let Them Eat Cake poster

Let Them Eat Cake

TV · 6 eps

1998
Stressed Eric poster

Stressed Eric

TV · 13 eps

1997
The Missing Postman poster

The Missing Postman

Movie · as Christine Peacock

1997
The Ugly Duckling poster

The Ugly Duckling

Movie · as The Hen (voice)

1997
The Missing Postman poster

The Missing Postman

TV · as Christine Peacock · 2 eps

1997
Midsomer Murders poster

Midsomer Murders

TV · as Abigail Tonev · 1 ep

1996
Secrets & Lies poster

Secrets & Lies

Movie · as Woman with Dog

1996
The Snow Queen's Revenge poster

The Snow Queen's Revenge

Movie · as Pearl

1996
No Bananas poster

No Bananas

TV · as Evelyn Hamilton · 10 eps

1996
Karaoke poster

Karaoke

TV · as Mrs Haynes · 2 eps

1996
Dalziel and Pascoe poster

Dalziel and Pascoe

TV · as Marion Mattis · 1 ep

1995
Gotta Get Out poster

Gotta Get Out

Movie · as Maggie

1995
Pride and Prejudice poster

Pride and Prejudice

TV · as Mrs. Bennet · 6 eps

1995
Crapston Villas poster

Crapston Villas

TV · 20 eps

1995
Kavanagh Q.C. poster

Kavanagh Q.C.

TV · as Evelyn Marie Kendall · 1 ep

1994
Degas and Pissario Fall Out poster

Degas and Pissario Fall Out

Movie · as Emma Dumay

1994
Do You Remember the First Time? poster

Do You Remember the First Time?

Movie

1994
The Wimbledon Poisoner poster

The Wimbledon Poisoner

TV · as Elinor Farr · 2 eps

1993
Selling Hitler poster

Selling Hitler

Movie · as Edda Goering

1993
GMTV poster

GMTV

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1992
Blame It on the Bellboy poster

Blame It on the Bellboy

Movie · as Rosemary Horton

1992
Gone to Seed poster

Gone to Seed

TV · as Hilda Plant · 6 eps

1991
Life Is Sweet poster

Life Is Sweet

Movie · as Wendy

1991
Gone to the Dogs poster

Gone to the Dogs

TV · as Lauren Patterson · 6 eps

1991
Selling Hitler poster

Selling Hitler

TV · as Edda Goering · 1 ep

1990
News Hounds poster

News Hounds

Movie · as Jackie Johns

1989
Wilt poster

Wilt

Movie · as Eva

1989
Shirley Valentine poster

Shirley Valentine

Movie · as Jane

1989
Virtuoso poster

Virtuoso

Movie · as Brenda

1989
Monster Maker poster

Monster Maker

Movie · as Perriwinkle

1989
A Small Mourning poster

A Small Mourning

Movie · as Marjorie

1989
7 Deadly Sins: Stage Acting poster

7 Deadly Sins: Stage Acting

Movie · as Janista Maine

1989
The Jim Henson Hour poster

The Jim Henson Hour

TV · as Perriwinkle · 1 ep

1989
Screen One poster

Screen One

TV · as Jackie Johns · 1 ep

1988
Stormy Monday poster

Stormy Monday

Movie · as Mayor

1988
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen poster

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

Movie · as Daisy

1988
Countryfile poster

Countryfile

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1987
The Short & Curlies poster

The Short & Curlies

Movie · as Betty

1986
Clockwise poster

Clockwise

Movie · as Gwenda Stimpson

1986
The Singing Detective poster

The Singing Detective

TV · as Mrs Marlow, Mrs Marlow / Lili · 3 eps

1986
ScreenPlay poster

ScreenPlay

TV · as Marjorie · 1 ep

1985
Number One poster

Number One

Movie · as Doreen

1985
Coming Through poster

Coming Through

Movie · as Kate

1985
The Caucasian Chalk Circle poster

The Caucasian Chalk Circle

Movie · as Kato/Natella/Aniko

1985
Screen Two poster

Screen Two

TV · as Brenda Ogdon · 1 ep

1984
Champions poster

Champions

Movie · as Mary Hussey

1984
A Private Function poster

A Private Function

Movie · as Mrs. Allardyce

1983
Tartuffe, or The Imposter poster

Tartuffe, or The Imposter

Movie · as Elmire

1982
P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang poster

P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang

Movie · as Miss Land

1982
Mike Leigh: Making Plays poster

Mike Leigh: Making Plays

Movie · as Self

1981
The Muscle Market poster

The Muscle Market

Movie · as Susan

1980
Pasmore poster

Pasmore

Movie · as Kay Pasmore

1978
Two Days That Shook the Branch

Two Days That Shook the Branch

Movie · as Norma Hardy

1977
Abigail's Party poster

Abigail's Party

Movie · as Beverley

1977
Our Flesh and Blood poster

Our Flesh and Blood

Movie · as Jan Blincoe

1976
Nuts in May poster

Nuts in May

Movie · as Candice Marie

1976
Bag of Yeast poster

Bag of Yeast

Movie · as Margaret Hudson

1976
Red Letter Day poster

Red Letter Day

TV · as Margaret Hudson · 1 ep

1975
Through the Night poster

Through the Night

Movie · as Christine Potts

1975
Early to Bed poster

Early to Bed

Movie · as Helen

1975
Oil Strike North poster

Oil Strike North

TV · 1 ep

1975
The Wackers poster

The Wackers

TV · as Bernadette Clarkson · 7 eps

1974
Girl poster

Girl

Movie · as Jackie

1974
Taking Leave poster

Taking Leave

Movie · as Nonie

1973
Hard Labour poster

Hard Labour

Movie · as Veronica Thornley

1973
Second City Firsts

Second City Firsts

TV · as Jackie, Helen · 1 ep

1972
Crown Court poster

Crown Court

TV · 1 ep

1971
Bel Ami

Bel Ami

TV · as Fencer (as Allison Steadman) · 1 ep

1970
Play for Today poster

Play for Today

TV · as Nonie, Veronica, Jan Blincoe, Kay Pasmore, Susan · 1 ep

1967
ITV Playhouse poster

ITV Playhouse

TV · as Norma Hardy · 1 ep

1949
The BAFTA Awards poster

The BAFTA Awards

TV · as Self · 1 ep